NORRISTOWN — A Pottstown man, the subject of a police manhunt for his alleged role in a plot to execute another man in a hail of bullets outside a borough bar, is no longer on the run.

Maurice Laverne “Reece” Andrews Jr., 19, whose last known address was in the first block of North Charlotte Street, has been apprehended by Montgomery County detectives in connection with the 2:17 a.m. March 22 gunshot slaying of Victor Enrique Bonilla Baez outside Brian’s Café in the 300 block of Jefferson Avenue.

“We never stopped looking for Mr. Andrews. It was a 24 hour, seven-day-a-week pursuit of Mr. Andrews and ultimately we were able to apprehend him due to the great work of our detectives and law enforcement agencies,” Assistant District Attorney Nathan Schadler said on Tuesday. “This was a full court press. We used every means available. It ended successfully.”

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Andrews is charged with first-, second- and third-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and firearms violations in connection with the alleged shooting death of Baez, who authorities said was unarmed. Authorities alleged Andrews was involved in an ongoing feud with Baez at the time of the fatal shooting.

Andrews faces a preliminary hearing on the charges at 10 a.m. May 17 before District Court Judge Edward C. Kropp Sr., along with his alleged co-defendant and cousin Michael Romain Hinton, who faces identical charges. Hinton, 26, of the 900 block of North Stainbridge Street, Norristown, also is being held at the county jail without bail, pending the preliminary hearing.

“I cannot comment about any of the circumstances surrounding his arrest only to say that this dangerous individual is off the streets right now,” Schadler said.

“We cannot comment about the circumstances under which he was arrested, due to the sensitive nature of this case, due to the nature of the offense at hand. He is in custody and when he was taken into custody nobody was hurt, nobody was injured,” Schadler added.

At the time of the manhunt for Andrews, District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said Andrews was considered to be armed and dangerous and sought the public’s help in apprehending him.

Baez, who also was known as Vincent Taylor, was found lying in the street adjacent to the sidewalk at Brian’s Café in the 300 block of North Charlotte Street, suffering from gunshot wounds to his torso, according to the criminal complaint filed by county Detective Todd Richard and Pottstown Detective Heather Long. An autopsy determined Baez, 27, died from multiple gunshot wounds during the altercation with Andrews and Hinton.

Witnesses questioned during the investigation told detectives that Baez and Andrews had been feuding for several months and that Andrews and “his associates” had robbed Baez at gunpoint on several occasions in the past, according to arrest documents.

Witnesses who had been at the bar reported seeing Baez, who was a regular customer at the bar and was known as “Doc,” inside before it closed at 2 a.m., court papers indicate. Baez, witnesses said, had no problems with any patrons during the visit.

A bartender called 911 after hearing shots fired outside the bar after closing time.

Investigators found six 9 mm bullet casings on the sidewalk of Jefferson Avenue, just east of the bar. Six “bullet strikes” to an exterior wall of the bar also were discovered, according to the arrest affidavit.

A Smith & Wesson .357-caliber revolver was found to the left side of Baez’s body, court papers indicate. That weapon contained four fired cartridge casings and two unfired cartridge casings, authorities said.

Detectives observed a blood trail from the crime scene throughout adjacent streets and alleys, a trail that led to a vacant residence in the 300 block of Walnut Street, according to the arrest affidavit. A blood-soaked comforter was found inside, police said.

Several hours later, about 7:47 a.m., county Constable Mark Gibson was driving in the 500 block of Lesher Alley when he observed a man, later identified as Hinton, limping and covering his hand with a knit hat, court papers said. When Gibson inquired about the man’s well-being, Hinton allegedly told Gibson he “was cut” and “shot in the leg,” according to the arrest affidavit.

When detectives arrived at Lesher Alley, Hinton provided a false name and he was transported by ambulance to an area hospital for treatment of his injuries. Hinton initially gave police inconsistent statements regarding his appearance at Brian’s Café, captured by surveillance video, about a half hour before closing time, according to the arrest affidavit.

Confronted with the inconsistencies in his statements, Hinton eventually told detectives he lied in order to protect Andrews, his cousin. Hinton subsequently claimed Andrews approached him a day before the murder and confided in him that Andrews was involved in an attempted kidnapping of Baez’s nephew on March 20, according to court papers.

“Andrews said that the plan had failed and he believed that Baez wanted to harm him,” detectives, referring to Hinton’s statement, wrote in the arrest affidavit. “Hinton said that Andrews asked Hinton to come to Pottstown with him to ‘watch his back.’”

Andrews and Hinton allegedly traveled by bus from Norristown to Pottstown on March 21 and upon their arrival went to the vacant Walnut Street residence and armed themselves with guns, Andrews with a Glock semiautomatic pistol and Hinton with a .357-caliber revolver, according to court papers. In the early morning hours of March 22, the armed men went to the area of Brian’s Café.

“Hinton said that Andrews told him he wanted to kill Baez,” detectives alleged in the arrest affidavit.

Andrews waited in a vehicle outside the bar while Hinton went inside to see if Baez was there, court documents indicate. According to Hinton’s statement to police, when Baez left the bar, Andrews approached him with a gun.

“Hinton said he also pulled his gun and Baez grabbed onto the barrel and a struggle ensued. During this struggle, Hinton said that Baez gained control of the revolver and the gun discharged,” according to the criminal complaint. “Hinton said Andrews fired his gun, striking both Baez and Hinton. Hinton said he was struck in the hand and that he left the revolver at the scene.”